Taylor Shomaker
Risk Management Advisor, Entertainment at Martin & Zerfoss, Inc.
Taylor has spent his entire career in the entertainment and live event industry. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Taylor joined AC Entertainment; Live Nation’s Knoxville/Nashville based concert and festival promotions company best know as the founder of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. While at AC Entertainment, Taylor gained experience in every aspect of the company, serving as the VP of Operations, Festival Director, Contracts & Insurance Manager, Talent Buyer, Concert Promoter, Production Manager, Ticketing Manager, Security Directory, Festival Risk & Safety Manager, Festival Operations Manager, and Project Manager.
These roles gave Taylor hands-on experience dealing with the challenges of the live music industry, and solidified his passion for navigating those issues with the safety and security of all fans, artists, and staff as the top priority. Taylor was an integral part of AC Entertainment’s transformation from independent promoter to becoming a part of Live Nation.
After over a decade at AC Entertainment Taylor was recruited by HUB International as the VP of Entertainment for their world leading Entertainment Risk Management practice. Taylor has since joined the Martin & Zerfoss team to continue his work streamlining and clarifying the risk management and insurance process for live events, artists, vendors, venues, and the rest of the entertainment industry. As a risk manager with boots on the ground experience, Taylor has become an invaluable resource for all of his clients and the entertainment industry as a whole.
As a passion project Taylor formed his own festival promotions company, SRE Entertainment. SRE currently owns and operates Riverfront Revival in Charleston, SC with their partner Darius Rucker. Riverfront Revival is a high end artist curated boutique festival that started in 2022.
Over his career Taylor has built a reputation as an inspirational leader through transparency, honesty, efficiency, hard work, and attention to detail. An ambitious spirit provides the drive to produce world-class events and create long lasting partnerships in high pressure environments with unflappable confidence and composure. Taylor is well respected across the industry serving on several boards, speaking on numerous panels, and being a member of Leadership Music and The Event Safety Alliance.